Mr. Bobby Gene  Oates, 69, of 1117 Mary’s Grove Church Rd., Kings Mountain, NC departed this life on Sunday, August 18, 2013 at Wendover Hospice in Shelby, NC.  He was born in Cleveland County on September 1, 1943 to James Elijah and Gertrude Gardner Barr and was their second oldest child.

Bobby was a 1961 graduate of Washington High School where he was a member of the boy’s basketball team.  He furthered his education at Morristown College in Tennessee earning an Associate’s degree while there.   Bobby began a career in law enforcement with the Shelby Police Force in 1965 as the fourth black police officer hired with the force. He worked his way up the ranks and eventually became a Captain before retiring from the force in 1999.  He was a lifetime member of the North State Law Enforcement.  His community involvement included being a founding board member of the Cleveland County Community Development Corporation and former memberships with the Elks Club and Masons. 

Bobby was longtime member of Washington Missionary Baptist Church where he was a former chairman of the trustee board, former president of the usher board, member of the mass choir and formerly a member of the senior and male choirs.  He found additional enjoyment in golfing, fishing, gardening and farming.

He was preceded in death by his father, James Elijah Oates.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife if 27 years, Tawanna S. Oates; his mother, Gertrude Barr of Southfield, MI; two sons, Carlos Oates (Chinetta) of Shelby and Bradford Oates of Forest City, NC; one brother, James Henry Oates (Eula) of Syracuse, NY; three sisters, Carolyn H. Bullard (Darson) of Lincolnton, NC, Linda Baldridge (Marvin) of Southfield, MI and Mary Perry of Charlotte, NC; two grandchildren, Kierra Pitter (Adrian) of Valdosta, GA and Jordan Oates of Shelby; his mother-in-law, Pauline Webber of Kings Mountain; two sisters-in-law, Doris Kilgore (John) of Shelby and Cathy Howell (George) of Cherryville, NC; god-daughter, Jada Goode of Kings Mountain; nieces and nephews, Tasha Watkins (Joel) of Mt. Holly, NC and their children, Tierra and Justus both of Greensboro, Shawn Harp (Chris) and their children Brianna and Kala of Mansfield, TX, Eric Oates and Doris Daniels both of Columbus, OH, Andre Oates of Fredericksburg, VA, Jamal Baldridge (Tamico) of Southfield, MI and their children, Jamal, Jr, Tonsha and Myra and Melissa Harp and son Bryce of Lincolnton; special cousin, Suzette Ross of Shelby and a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, August 22, 2013 at 2:00 PM at Washington Missionary Baptist Church with Pastor Melvin L. Clark officiating and Rev. Charles Webber delivering the eulogy.  Burial will take place at the church cemetery.  The family will receive friends from 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM on Thursday.  Condolences can be expressed online at www.enloes.net.  Enloe Mortuary is in charge of the arrangements.